Accreditation

Accreditation is a process of external peer review in which a private, nongovernmental agency or association grants public recognition to an institution or specialized program of study that meets certain established qualifications and educational standards, as determined through initial and subsequent periodic evaluations. (Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation, 1991).

ABGC grants accreditation to a graduate program in genetic counseling that meets or exceeds the Required Criteria established by ABGC in 1996. Accreditation is granted for a finite period and must be renewed as specified by ABGC.

Benefits of ABGC Accreditation

ABGC accreditation benefits genetic counseling programs and advantageously affects the genetic counseling profession as well as communities and the general public by:

• Promoting and insuring quality and diversity in programs by requiring educational institutions to continuously evaluate and improve their processes and outcomes
• Supporting institutions and programs in their efforts to meet and exceed required criteria
• Identifying programs that meet nationally accepted standards for prospective students
• Fostering and facilitating higher levels of academic performance, integrity, and quality by both genetic counseling students and professionals
• Better preparing students for certification exams and the workforce
• Providing prospective employers with highly competent and qualified genetic counseling graduates